Greece Tourist Visa – Everything You Need To Know

The
visa must be applied for at least 2-3 weeks before the intended date of travel

Passport
photographs that do not adhere to the rules are the most common reason for visa
denial

Do you wonder what the Parthenon looks like? Or, what it would be like to see the famed Mount Olympus?

You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of people travel to Greece to explore her natural beauty and archeological ruins. Getting a tourist visa to Greece is quite easy. Read on to know more.

Sunset at Mount Olympus

With its
ancient ruins, endless coastlines and vibrant culture, a holiday in Greece is a
thrill for the senses. From adventure activities to sightseeing, there’s plenty
to do here. In 2018, Greece welcomed over 30 million tourists from across the
world.

One of the
many reasons why people choose to holiday in Greece is the relative ease with
which one can get a tourist visa for Greece. Since the country is part f the
Schengen area, Greece does not have a tourist visa policy of its own but allows
foreigners to enter the country with a Schengen visa.

Best Time To Visit Greece

Best Time To Visit

Athens Epidaurus Festival

Winter

May to September (Athens and the Islands)

June – August

November - February

What Is The Schengen Visa?

The Schengen area came into being in 1985 when 5 countries; Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, and the Netherlands signed the Schengen agreement. This agreement opened the borders of these countries to allow their citizens to move freely amongst them.

It also set
into motion a visa policy by which a foreigner needs to apply for a single visa
for all countries within the Schengen area. Greece signed the Schengen
agreement in 1992. However, it was only in 2000 that it implemented the visa
policy.

A Schengen visa can be used to travel to one or many of the Schengen countries. As of today, there are 26 countries that can be visited with this visa.

The visa can be obtained at the consulate of any of the Schengen countries but there are a few guidelines that must be followed when deciding which consulate to apply in.

The visa
application must be submitted to either the consulate of the country where the
maximum time will be spent or the consulate of the country that will be visited
first (if you are traveling to more than
one country during a single visit). If you are traveling
only to Greece, you may apply for a Greece tourist visa or Schengen visa at the
consulate of Greece.

Greece Tourist Visa Fees

A service
charge and visa processing fee are payable at the time of submitting the
application and the supporting documents. This is a non-refundable payment and
may be made by cash or credit/debit card. The details of the payment are as
follows:

Visa
fee for adults: EUR 60

Visa
fee for children between the ages of 6 to 12 years: EUR 35

Visa
fee for children below 6 years of age: NA

How To Apply For A Greece Tourist
Visa?

Since it is
part of the Schengen countries, a Greece tourist visa is fairly easy to get and
simple to apply for. The applications usually take
about 2 weeks to be processed and hence should be applied for 2-3 weeks before
the intended date of travel.

The visa
application form is available online and can be downloaded freely. The form can
be filled in by hand or completed online and printed. A list of documents
required along with the form is given below.

Once the
application and the supporting documents have been collected, tourists will
need to book an appointment at the consulate of Greece to submit the
application. A visa processing fee will also need to be paid at this stage.

In some
cases, the applicant may be interviewed by the visa processing officer. Once
the visa is processed, it will be stamped onto the passport which may be
collected from the consulate or delivered to the applicant’s address.

Documents Required For A Greece
Tourist Visa

The
documents required for a Schengen visa to Greece are:

Cover Letter

This is a document that must mention why you are planning a trip to Greece, the places you intend to visit and proof of how your trip will be funded.

If any of the other documents required are not being submitted, an explanation for their omission must also be included. A cover letter is especially important if your visa application is being submitted by a third person.

Flight Itinerary

There is a big difference between a flight itinerary and flight tickets. When applying for a Schengen visa, you do not need to have booked your tickets in advance but you should be able to show a reservation or blocked ticket.

For this, you will need to submit details of the flight number, dates of travel- arrival and departure, airport IATA code and the price of the ticket. A one-way ticket is not acceptable.

Accommodation Arrangements

You will need documentation to prove that you have a place to stay throughout your stay in Greece. If you are staying with friends or family members, you may submit a letter of introduction from them. Else, you will need to show hotel booking receipts.

If you are not sure of your exact itinerary and do not want to make hotel bookings in advance, you may make a dummy booking by paying a nominal amount to certain hotels in Greece.

Proof Of Means Of Sustenance

You should also be able to prove that you have sufficient financial backing for your trip. This may take the form of bank statements or salary slips for the last three months, a copy of the last year’s income tax returns or proof of employment.

If the trip is being sponsored by someone else, a letter of guarantee from them and a letter explaining your relationship to the person and their reason for sponsoring your trip will also be needed.

Travel Health Insurance

Any person traveling to Greece must have a minimal
insurance cover of EUR 30,000. You can get this insurance from an insurance agent.

Passport

A valid
passport is a must when applying for a Schengen visa. this passport must be
valid for at least 3 months after the person returns from his/her intended
visit to Greece. It should also have at least 2 empty pages.

Photographs

2 passport
sized photographs of the applicant must be submitted with the application form.
These photographs must be recently taken and should adhere to the following
specifications:

It
must be 35mm wide x 45mm tall

The
photograph must be taken against a white background

It
must be printed on high-quality glossy
paper

The
photograph must not be folded or marked

The
applicant must look straight into the camera with a neutral expression

The
applicant’s face must take up 70-80% of the frame

Both
eyes must be open and uncovered by any reflective glasses, hair or glares

The
forehead and chin must be clearly visible

Headwear
may only be permitted if it is worn for religious purposes. In such cases, the
headwear must not cover any part of the face